T365 Fantasy French Open predictions: Alcaraz ‘has the edge’ as Sabalenka ‘the player to beat’
Roland Garros is underway, with the best ATP and WTA stars battling away at the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.
Here, our writers Oli Dickson Jefford, Shahida Jacobs, Kevin Palmer, and Ewan West predict their men’s and women’s singles champions at the French Open.
Men’s singles
ODJ: Carlos Alcaraz comes into his French Open title defence having won the title in Monte Carlo and Rome this spring, alongside reaching the Barcelona Open final. I find it hard to see him losing if he continues this level of form.
SJ: On the back of his Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open titles, I am going with Carlos Alcaraz to make back-to-back trophies at Roland Garros. His cushy draw should help.
KP: Is it a straight shoot-out between defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world No 1 Jannik Sinner? Probably, but Novak Djokovic is the wild card here as he could be a threat to either if he is firing in the second week. Alcaraz has the edge on Sinner if the ‘Big 2’ meet in the final, so the Spaniard has what it takes to win in Paris again.
EW: Carlos Alcaraz would have been the favourite irrespective of the draw given his outstanding clay results, but Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev both landing in Jannik Sinner’s half only boosts his hopes of a successful title defence.
Women’s singles
ODJ: Discount Iga Swiatek at your peril and certainly don’t underestimate either Coco Gauff or Mirra Andreeva, but Aryna Sabalenka has been the class of the field in 2025 – and is the most consistent player at Grand Slams.
SJ: Iga Swiatek’s low confidence and her difficult path mean the women’s draw is wide open. Sabalenka should be favourite, but she has the in-form Jasmine Paolini, Swiatek/Elena Rybakina in her half. Coco Gauff, meanwhile, can blow hot and cold, but her easier draw is why I am going with the American.
KP: Iga Swiatek has been French Open favourite for the last five years, but the scale of her slide over the last 12 months means it is hard to believe she can retain her title this year. Aryna Sabalenka is the favourite, but her desperation to win a first title in Paris may be her biggest problem and this could allow Jasmine Paolini to come through and win a first Grand Slam title.
EW: I find it hard to go against Iga Swiatek in Paris despite her difficult last 12 months, but world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is the player to beat. The Belarusian was a point away from the French Open final in 2023 and was derailed by illness last year. With doubts over Swiatek, and Coco Gauff’s persistent issues with her serve and forehand, this could be Sabalenka’s year.
French Open News
Tim Henman predicts who will win Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Grand Slam battle
Chris Evert offers ruthless take on Novak Djokovic’s French Open hopes
T365 Fantasy Game
This season, our writers are competing to see who can earn as many points as possible by predicting the champions at every ATP and WTA-level tournament.
Five points are available for a correct champion pick, with three for a runner-up, and one for a semi-finalist.
This becomes seven points for a champion, five for a runner-up, three for a semi-finalist, and one for a quarter-finalist at Grand Slams.
Last week was a hugely successful week for Ewan, who successfully backed Novak Djokovic in Geneva and Elena Rybakina in Strasbourg to close the gap to Oli – who earned no points – at the top.
Shahida also earned six points, backing Rybakina in Strasbourg and seeing Rabat pick Camila Osorio reach the semi-final.
Standings
1) Oli Dickson Jefford – 101 points
2) Ewan West – 97 points
3) Shahida Jacobs – 65 points
4) Kevin Palmer – 60 points
